EDEL KENEALY
Vaccinators who have given the Covid- 19 jab to more than 92,000 people in Renfrewshire say they are proud to be ending periods of “harrowing isolation” for vulnerable people.
Norma Millar, Mandarin McLaughlin, Josephine Queen and Julie Hughes have, along with their colleagues and GP surgeries, now issued a first dose of the Covid vaccine to the most vulnerable people in the community.
All those aged over 50, unpaid carers and people with an underlying health condition – groups that account for 98 per cent of all Covid deaths in Scotland – were completed last week.
In total 92,641 people have had a first dose of either the Pzifer or Oxford Astrazenca vaccine in the local authority area, 62.2 per cent of the adult population.
The women – three of whom came out of retirement to speed up the vaccine roll-out – say they have been forever moved by Buddies who have endured months of isolation, loss and unimaginable bereavement.
Norma Millar, who leads the busiest vaccine clinic in Renfrewshire at Paisley’s Lagoon, said: “The sessions are just amazing to work at. I have felt privileged meeting new colleagues of all walks of life and members of the public, some with harrowing stories of isolation.
“I don’t know that I think about what we are doing too deeply.
“But I do think about all the families that have lost loved ones or those suffering with long Covid – the impact on all of society is immense and will be felt for years to come.”
Retired nurse Julie, 63, who travels to the Lagoon from Glasgow, also feels a sense of pride in being part of the wider fight against the deadly disease.
She said: “I feel like I’m doing my bit in a good way to get us all out of this situation.
“It does feel emotional at times.
“I have a 96- year- old mother and for a lot of the elderly and vulnerable, it has given them hope, and I often think of her when working with the clinics.”
Norma, was a team leader for pre-school immunisation in Renfrewshire before managing the Lagoon clinic.
Despite normally working with under fives, she says the anxieties people have are much the same no matter their age. But for those who have endured months of isolation, a trip to the vaccine centre has been really overwhelming.
These are the people – together with exhausted doctors and nurses – that will stick in the minds of the vaccinators for years to come.
Norma, from Bishopton, said: “One gentleman was so anxious, sweating profusely and panicking – not about the vaccine as I answered all his questions – but it was the enormity of being out of the house and he did so well even coming along to the clinic.
“This was just a genuine guy who had no idea why Covid had impacted on his mental health.”
She added: “What also stood out to me was a very young junior doctor I vaccinated at a staff clinic with the most horrific facial skin breakdown from constant PPE wearing.
“She was exhausted and still smiling through it.
“She reminded me of my daughter and I just wanted to take her home and look after her.”
For all the women, the gratitude people express when they receive their vaccine continues to be moving.
At the height of the second wave of the pandemic in January, they were vaccinating thousands of Buddies in their 70s, many of whom had been not seen friends or family in months.
Over 9,000 people, including those aged 70 to 74 and the clinically extremely vulnerable, were vaccinated at the three clinics in Renfrewshire including the Lagoon, Renfrew Leisure Centre and Johnstone Town Hall in January and February.
Retired nurse Mandarin said: “I feel fantastic and proud to be involved in the vaccine programme.
“The resilience and gratitude of the elderly population has been overwhelming. They are so appreciative and thankful.
“I go home at the end of the night feeling like I have contributed to the task in hand.”
Josephine, f rom Johnstone, worked as a health and social care worker before retiring.
She said: “It feels good to see everyone coming in for their vaccine and makes me feel like I have a purpose talking to people during the session and making sure the nurses have everything they need.
“It ’ s heartbreaking hearing the stories of people who have lost loved ones or people who haven’t been out of the house and they really appreciate what we are doing for them.”
From this week onwards, the women and their colleagues across Renfrewshire will be vaccinating all those aged 45 to 49.
Appointment letters to people in this age group and those aged 40 to 44 will continue to drop into letter boxes in the coming weeks, with the oldest in each age category invited first.
This age group, together with the remaining 56,159
The sessions are just amazing to work at
Norma Miller
People really appreciate what we are doing for them Josephine Queen
Renfrewshire R adults still to receive a first dose of the th vaccine, will be invited to get the jab before the end of o July.
Work to issue a second d dose to those aged 65 and ov over began on April 19 and is d due to be completed around M May 10.
Those aged 18 to 30 will b be the last age group asked to roll up their sleeve and w will be administered either th the Pzifer or Moderna v vaccine, with the Oxford A Astrazeneca jab ruled out for those in this category.
For the Lagoon vaccinators – who will continue to work there until every Renfrewshire adult has been invited for their two doses – one thing is foremost in their minds: Take nothing for granted.
Julie said: “It makes you realise we can’t take anything for granted and we should live our lives and be more aware of what can happen.”
Josephine added: “I have always loved life but this has made me appreciate that I still have my health and can have a full life – not everyone has been lucky.”